Background
#The charging infrastructure funding in Canton St. Gallen supports new basic infrastructure in existing, non-public parking garages when at least four operational charging stations with load management are planned.
A building counts as existing if it has a legally binding building permit issued before 31 December 2020; in mixed-use buildings, at least 30% of the energy reference area must be residential. For linked PV, at least 12 kWp must be built in the same project and a building permit must exist, so a separate proof of naturemade electricity is not required.
Energieagentur St.Gallen GmbH handles applications through the e-Förderportal and decides under the guidance for measure M27. A single wallbox or a public charging station is outside this funding category.
What counts for funding
#The building age limits eligibility. Funding covers infrastructure in non-public parking garages of existing buildings whose building permit became legally binding before 31 December 2020. A newer building therefore does not fit this measure, even if its garage has four parking spaces and load management.
For mixed-use buildings, residential area is the threshold. Residential energy reference area must account for at least 30%. A commercial property with four charging points is therefore not automatically eligible; the agency needs the building use and the relevant energy reference area for classification.
System scale matters more than the number of prepared cables. The measure requires at least four operational charging stations at expansion level D and load management that can reduce, shift or prioritise total charging power. Under the guidance, a single wallbox does not count as funded charging infrastructure.
The energy source determines the evidence required. Without PV built at the same time, the infrastructure must run on naturemade quality level 2 electricity or an equivalent product. This supply proof is waived when a building-owned PV system of at least 12 kWp with a building permit is created in the same project; alternatively, proof of a ZEV or EVG totalling at least 12 kWp is sufficient.
The funding modules must be calculated separately. For C1/C2, meaning the connection line, protective equipment and any meters under SIA Merkblatt 2060, the contribution is CHF 300 per equipped parking space, capped at CHF 25,000 and 35% of investment costs. For operational level-D charging stations, it is CHF 800 per space, with at least four stations and a 50% investment cap. Linked PV receives a flat CHF 5,000.
The application date is a project risk. The written application with signed form and attachments must have reached Energieagentur St.Gallen GmbH before execution; starting earlier excludes the contribution. After the decision, the commitment remains valid for two years. A one-time extension can only be requested with reasons in writing before the deadline expires.
The process in six steps
#Tick off for your project
Check the building and use
collect the legally binding building permit issued before 31 December 2020, whether the garage is public or non-public, and, for mixed-use buildings, the residential share of the energy reference area. The 30% threshold must be clarified before technical design.
Choose the energy source
decide whether the infrastructure will use naturemade quality level 2 or equivalent electricity, building PV created at the same time, or a ZEV or EVG. For PV, include the 12 kWp minimum and required building permit in the project documents.
Design the infrastructure under SIA 2060
plan the connection line, protective equipment and any meters as C1/C2, plus at least four operational charging stations as level D. The load management must show how total power is reduced, shifted or prioritised; multiple entrances or floors still count as one garage.
Separate funding modules and cost evidence
show C1/C2 at CHF 300 per parking space, capped at CHF 25,000 and 35% of investment costs, level D at CHF 800 per space and capped at 50%, and linked PV at CHF 5,000. This makes clear which quote item belongs to which funding module.
Submit the complete application
enter the online form in the e-Förderportal and send the signed form and required attachments to Energieagentur St.Gallen GmbH. These include a map extract, parking-garage plan, quote including installation and CE conformity, and evidence of the electricity source or PV, ZEV or EVG data. Receipt must be before execution.
Sequence decision and implementation
the agency reviews the application and, if approved, issues a funding commitment valid for two years. Starting after submission but before the decision is at the applicant’s own risk. After completion, submit the project-completion notice and attachments; payment follows only after a successful final inspection.
Checked for your roof, not just read up on
Once the framing is clear, a property-specific check with roof, grid and documentation is worthwhile.
Frequently asked questions
#Sources
#The responsible authorities are decisive. Always verify binding details – amounts, deadlines and conditions – for your specific property against the current status of the respective authority.